Roses #5 (sketch)

Roses #5 - sketch

Roses #5 - sketch

6 x 9 inches, oil on linen, alla prima from life sketch of 3 david austin roses in a spice jar.  The variety is “Abraham Darby” and it’s one of the most beautiful roses I’ve ever seen.  I’ll probably paint these a lot.  Hooray.

This is available at auction.  On my site, just look for the widget on the right side.

A few of you have commented on my breakthrough, and thanks!  The more I paint something, the looser it gets, and more of my personality shows up in it.  Each kind of drip, line, edge, obliteration, and finish (or lack thereof) has a particular meaning in the narrative.  In the figure paintings, it’s probably pretty obvious, but in the floral paintings I guess it might not be. 

Some people have asked how I know “when it’s done”.  Actually, I see these in my head in mostly-done fashion right after the 3-value sketch.  So it’s a matter of driving to that vision.  “Vision” is sort of a high falutin word, and it reminds me of that character in “Heroes”, but that’s the gist of it.  Sometimes there’s some futzing around at the end and staring at it in a mirror, and then getting a sense for what it “needs,” like knowing your stew needs salt.